Greensboro Plan2Play Parks and Recreation Master Plan 2019

106 - FEBRUARY 2019

Action 3c. Reduce the need for mowing to increase wildlife habitat and lower maintenance. Greensboro currently mows approximately 600 acres of park land. The Department should carefully evaluate ways to reduce mowing within the parks and recreational drainageways. Reduced mowing of parks will have both labor and environmental benefits. It will improve labor efficiencies and reduce fossil fuel consumption. Likewise, reduced mowing would create opportunities for reforestation in many habitat types – including floodplain forests adjacent to streams. Reforestation of floodplains improves stream ecology and habitat for plants and wildlife. • Reduce mow areas through strategic design of reforested and grassland areas in existing parks - Reforestation or the creation of reduce-mow grasslands, planted and managed by POD, create unique recreational opportunities for park visitors. Parks like Hamilton Lakes Park, Brown Bark Park and Kings Forest Park have the potential to contain forested trails, mountain biking trails, or environmental educational opportunities such as bird watching trails and platforms that offer an experience beyond the perimeter sidewalk trail.

Action 3d. Increase shade through planting of native tree species. Increase the urban canopy in parks - According to the Guilford County Tree Canopy Study, Greensboro has 37.8% tree cover, which is lower than the county average of 49.7%. Trees provide valuable shade and important connections for pedestrians during Greensboro’s hot summers, are excellent at reducing air pollution, and help to reduce heat island in urban areas, where many of Greensboro’s parks and facilities are located. Tree planting, not just within reforested areas but throughout parks, can provide both ecological benefits and increase human comfort. The use of native species that are adapted to the local ecology will decrease the need for maintenance and provide important food and forage for local fauna. The Department should continue to partner with programs such as Greensboro Beautiful's community tree planting program NeighborWoods.

• Strengthen collaborations with Water Resources - Collaborations between the Department and the Greensboro Department of Water Resources could strengthen efforts to improve water quality and the ecology of the local waterways. In addition, opportunities to integrate additional drainageways

and dirtways into the network of parks and trails will strengthen the “green infrastructure” of the city by permanently allowing these lands to serve dual ecological and recreational roles for future generations.

Figure 67. No Mow areas reduce maintenance needs and protect natural habitats for plants and animals.